The Ekeko Latin America initiative aims to empower small business owners and cacao farmers in rural Peru by promoting financial education. The project aims to assist communities in acquiring financial literacy skills so they can better manage their income, savings and investments, building on the legacy of XHUMA South Africa. By collaborating with the Choba Choba Foundation, a Swiss Peruvian organization that shares Ekeko’s commitment to social and economic empowerment, the project hopes to establish a long-lasting, education-focused platform that benefits local communities in ways that go beyond a single student body. Its main objective is to give local leaders the resources they need to share this knowledge within their own communities, guaranteeing scalable, long-lasting effects.
Through practical financial education catered to the needs of cocoa farmers, Ekeko Latin America aims to promote economic independence and improve their standard of living. In order to optimize cultural interchange and efficacy, the initiative anticipates future cohorts strengthening their ties with Choba Choba, extending the workshop concept and possibly bringing back in-person field excursions. The overall objective is to establish a self-sustaining cycle of information exchange that improves farmers' economic insight and financial resiliency. In the past, XHUMA started off as a SIM student-led initiative in South Africa in 2012 with the goal of using financial education to fight poverty. It developed over time to incorporate interactive workshops like "The Money Game," mentoring, and savings initiatives. Launched in 2024, the Latin American branch represents a new chapter in this tradition, bringing more than ten years of expertise into a new cultural and regional setting while upholding XHUMA's fundamental goal of long-term, community-centred impact.
Bhanu Singh | Finance |
Frederik Wetzelaer | Partnerships & Funding |
Marcela Cohen | Partnerships & Funding |
Romina Schwager | Social Media & Communication |
Timothy Tikhonov | Finance |
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